Hay-carrier track.



T. J. MADDRELL & G; A. SWINEFORD.

HAY CARRIER TRACK. 7 APPLICATION FILED JULY 24. 1908.

Patented Nov. 10, 1908.

UNITED s'rArns rairnn OFFICE.

THOMAS J. MA'DDRELL AND esoses A. swiunroiu), or CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE e. A. SW'INEFORD COMPANY, or CANTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION or 01110.

HAY CARRIEE TRACK. c

Specification of Letters Patent. 2

I Patented Nov. 10, 1905;.

Application filed July 24, 1908. Serial No. 446,131.

To all whom it may concern: Y

' Be it known that we, THOMAS J.'MADDRELL and GEORGE A. Swmnroao, citizens of the United States, residents of'Canton, county of Stark, and State of Ohio, have jointly in- .vented a new and useful Improvement in lIay-Carrier Tracks, of which the following is a s ecification, the principle of the invention eing herein explained and the best "mode in which we have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguis from other inventions.

This our present invention, relating as indicated to tracks, has more particular regard to the construction of tracks, such as are used in connection with hay carriers or like devices. In an approved constructioi'l of such tracks, two parallel disposed, spaced, angle bars are suitably secured together to form thetrack sections, and it is with the coupling together of such sections that the,

present-invention is still more particularly concerned.

- more so than any of the present types of The object of the invention is the provision of means that while as eflieient, if not I coupling on the market, will possess the ad'- angle b'a rs are secured together by. transverserrVei-s a which are eithcryshouldered as the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective View of two terminally abutting track sections of the kind referred to above, together with a coupling embodying our sev eral improvements securing same together; Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal vertical-sod tion' of said couplingmml adjacent track section ends; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the parts of the coupling as it appears previous to being assembled.

As has been stated, the particular type of [track section A in which the coupler is in- ..tended to be used, is made up of two parallel disposed angle bars (1, Figs. 1 and 2. Such abutting track-sections.

shown,'or else provided with sleeves to retain the bars the proper distance apart. The number of rivets a-thus employed is amatter of indifference, but it is designed that there shall be atleast one near each'end of the track-secti0n as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. To secure such sections A together, then, We provide a coupling made up of twosimilar members B shown in perspective inFig. 8. From examination of such figurete'ach member will be seen to consist of a plate-like portion I) provided with a rib b on its inturned face, which ribis formed with recesscs 1) adapted respectively to engage. the two rivets a in the contiguous ends of the. Each member B furthermore, has an aperture 6 at its one end and a lug b at its other end adapted to enter into the corresponding apertureof the other member, Lugs Z1 are threaded, and nuts Z1 with or without washers as desired, are provided for such threaded lugs, where- 1 bythe two members may be drawn together in the ,manner clearly shown in Fig, 2.

When thus drawn together, the recesses 5 in the rib portions 6 of the respective mcmhere, will .be seen to be so disposed as to inclose the rivets of the respective track sections, clamping the same in a vise-like grip as the nuts on the lugs are turned down.

.From the foregoing construction and method of assembling our .in'iproved coup-. 1111 1t w ll be seen that an unusually rigid an effective joint is produced, such that any tendency to sag or give .Way at the line of unction between the two"track sections 1s practically eliminated. \Ve should call par ticular attention, however, to the-fact that the two members of. the coupling are -dupli-' I cates of each other. Not only does this faeihtate and considerably chea pen thelr mam,

ufacture, but it also makes it impossible to wrongly attach the coupling, since either side is right side up, or down, as the case may be. This is an itemof no small importance,sinee structures of the char-suitor in hand are frequently put up by unskilled hands, and considerable pains -heretofore have had to be used in explaining the manner in. which the more complicated constructions of coupling are to be put together. It happens that in Fi 1. the track-sections are shown with the flanges projectil'ig from their under side, this being the position which they usually occupy when in use. tln view, how-,

' ever, of what has the mode of applying our coupling,

lowing claims or the the other end adapted to just been noted concerning the particular position of the track-sections is clearly a matter of indifference,- and the lat-.

ter may just as well be disposed with the flanges projecting from the upper sides, if,

as 1s the case with certain types of hay-carriers, this is found desirable. Other means of applying the principle of our invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards'the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated equivalent of such stated means be employed.

l/Ve therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as our invention 1. The combination with two abutting track-sections provided with transversely disposed elements near'their respec t1ve ends, of a coupling for said track-sections, said coupling. comprising two membersadapte .to engage said transversely dis: posed elements, each such member having an aperture at one end and a projecting lug at enter the corresponding aperture in the other member.

2. The combination with two terminally abuttin track-sections made up of parallel disposed spaced angle-bars secured together by transverse rivets near their respective ends, of members adapted to engagesaid rivets, each such member having an aperture at its one end and athreaded lug at its other end adapted to enter the corresponding aperture by any one of the fol-,

terminally a coupling comprising two similar in the other member, and nuts for such 5, threaded lugs for drawing said coupling members together.

3. The combination with two terminally abutting track-sections made up of parallel disposed, spaced angle-bars secured together by transverse rivets near their respective ends, of a coupling comprising two similar plate-like members provided with ribs .on their inturned faces formed with recesses adapted to engage said rivets, each such member having an aperture at its one end and a threaded lug at its other end adapted to enter the correspondin aperture in the other member, and nuts For such threaded lugs for drawing said coupling members together. V

4. As an article of manufacture, a coupling for track-sections of the character described, comprising two similar plate-like members provided with ribs on their in- .turned faces formed with recesses adapted to engage the transverse rivets of the tracksections, each such memberhaving an aperrnosiJ. MADDRELL. GEORGE A. SWINEFORD.

Attested by- C. H. WILLIAMs WILLIAM N. Gn'r'rnnn.

ture at its one end and a threaded lug at its 

